Kerry and Kyoto: Killing the dream
By Cheryl K. Chumley
web posted September 20, 2004
Forefront of presidential candidate John Kerry's environmental
policy is to enact the Kyoto Protocol. He says as much in his
"Vision for a Cleaner Environment, a Stronger Economy and
Healthier Communities."
"The U.S. must join the international community and begin to
constrain emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases that are already changing the climate of our planet," he
purports.
Of course, an elected Kerry can't act independently of the
Senate, according to Article Two, Section Two of the
Constitution, which gives the president "power, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided
two thirds of the senators present concur." But he already has
the vote of at least one senator – John McCain (R-Ariz.), who
staunchly continues to promote passage of his Climate
Stewardship Act, a failed endeavor to regulate greenhouse gas
and carbon dioxide emissions that he stubbornly refuses to let
die.
On the global level, the issue of climate change is heating, too.
Just a few days ago, England Prime Minister Tony Blair
promised to bring the issue of climate change before the next
scheduled meeting of the world's industrial superpowers in hopes
of forcing G-8 nations to embrace the Kyoto Protocol. It's
doubtful President Bush, who has so far refused ratification of
this U.N. document, will feel pressured into changing his mind,
even as a sort of quid pro quo for Blair's outspoken support of
America during the war against terrorism and Iraq.
But Kerry? That's a different matter, and though this is one issue
he can be proud of not flip-flopping – his penchant for all things
Green speaks too loudly for that – it also happens to be one that
flies in the face of what's best for America. And while this
upcoming election should be considered crucial in terms of
achieving the goals of the war on terrorism, or of the judicial
make-up of our nation's federal court system, it should also be
noted for its potential at solidifying the direction of another battle,
namely the rage against environmental radicalism from both
domestic and international sources.
Kerry condemns Bush for refusing "to confront the serious
consequences of rising greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere
in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence" and for pursuing
"half-hearted voluntary measures that have simply maintained the
status quo." But status quo with the Kyoto Protocol is a good
thing. Ratification means America's largest producers – the
energy, agricultural and manufacturing sectors – would be forced
to roll back the clock and control greenhouse gas emissions to
the levels in 1990, which in turn would depress our national
economy. How? By diminishing supply even in the face of
escalating demand and this, of course, brings about higher
consumer prices.
This is hardly in line with free-market principle, the concept upon
which this nation has flourished for decades. But worse still is
violation of this core American issue: What about sovereignty?
"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with
any portion of the foreign world...," said George Washington,
our nation's first president, during his 1796 farewell address to
the nation.
Truly, is there any alliance that contradicts this wise instruction of
Washington's more than environmental treaties, or any treaties at
all for that matter, with the United Nations? What this country
needs, more than a well-funded military, more than a strategic
defense against terrorists, more even than quick-fix appointees to
the judicial system, is a strong leader who is not afraid to tell the
world that America can stand alone.
We need a president who not only believes America is still the
best country in the world, but who also does not shy from
repeating this belief ad nauseum, without fear. Because from
such steadfast conviction will naturally spawn a formidable
military, a clear vision for battling terrorists, an honorable judicial
system based on Founding Father intent, as restored pride leads
citizens to cast off the socialist coat our country currently wears
and demand accountability from the politicians who have so
blatantly led us astray.
The quick answer to conclude now is that Kyoto can be stopped
by electing Bush rather than Kerry, McCain's Climate
Stewardship Act should be put through the shredder, and Blair's
statements ought to be dismissed, since he is not an American
citizen.
But to do such would be to miss the bigger picture: The dream of
our nation is dying, and environmental plans like Kyoto represent
just one small drop in an overall rainstorm that has swept our
country into a quagmire of entangling alliances.
Cheryl K. Chumley is a freelance columnist who may be
contacted at ckchumley@aol.com.
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